Drill Quick. The Arabs And Cubans Are Coming.

April 24, 2009|Posted by Josh Hafenbrack on April 24, 2009 02:53 PM

Oil-drilling sponsor Rep. Charles Van Zant, R-Keystone Heights, said in floor debate today that exploration 3-10 miles from Florida?s coastline is a ?national security issue? because if we don?t drill, terrorist sympathizers would use technology to extract oil under state waters.

Van Zant said ?Arabs,? as well as those from Cuba, Argentina and elsewhere, would extract Florida?s oil and natural gas and ?use the profits from that as terrorist activities against our nation.?

?We must drill,? he said.

The late-hour proposal to allow the governor and Cabinet to authorize oil and natural gas exploration off the coastline is on the House floor today ? and drawing testy question-and-answer sessions between Van Zant and Democrats opposed to the idea.